Pregnancy Massage
Pregnancy is painful. If anyone tells you otherwise – they’re lying. Pregnancy puts a strain on your body like nothing else, and specialized treatment is necessary to relieve pain and tension, to make your pregnancy an enjoyable experience. If you have never tried a pregnancy massage, it’s time you give it a go. Here is everything you need to know.
What is pregnancy massage?
During pregnancy, your body is going through a number of changes that can cause some painful side effects. Common complaints during pregnancy include backaches, neck pain, leg cramps, headaches, anxiety, swelling and bloating. A pregnancy massage helps with all of these, allowing a pregnant mother to practice self-care, giving her the space to relax and decompress – both mentally and physically.
In a pregnancy massage, the pregnant mother will be positioned in a way that is comfortable and supported, using cushions and specialist equipment to ensure that there is no unnecessary tension or pain. This is particularly important for pregnant women, who shouldn’t be in compromising positions that place too much pressure on the womb, to avoid any possible complications. The massage therapist is aware of this, and will ensure you are happy prior to begin the massage.
The therapist will massage in gentle strokes, applying some light pressure in long strokes along with the muscles and in circular motions towards the heart. This will help to relieve muscle tightness and any nerves that may be trapped, and the circular massage technique is for lymphatic drainage.
What are the benefits?
Pregnancy massages are relaxing, implementing similar techniques as swedish massage to promote feelings of calm and realign your mind and body. If you want to read more about the benefits of massages, click here (LINK TO SWEDISH MASSAGE PAGE). However pregnancy massages offer a unique set of benefits for the pregnant mother, including:
- Alleviate aches and pains
- Relieve muscle cramps and myofascial pain
- Increases blood flow
- Decreases swelling by stimulating the drainage of lymph nodes
- Eases labor pain
- Helps the mother connect to her child
- Increases a sense of wellbeing
Pregnancy can be a difficult time, made easier by pregnancy massages. A study published in the Journal of Psychosomatic Obstetrics & Gynecology found that pregnancy massages were able to reduce anxiety, boost mood, improve sleep and decrease back pain in a group of expectant mothers throughout the trial. These results are profound.
The researchers of the study believe that the benefits of a pregnancy massage stem from two main factors: massages alleviate physical pain and discomfort, and secondly – they promote feelings of calm. During pregnancy, anxiety levels are higher, and so treating stress through massage can bring about mental relief, while the massage itself provides physical relief; the ultimate combination for pregnant mothers.
If you are interested in trying a pregnancy massage, please reach out to us today.
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Therapeutic massage spa in Houston that can help you recover from injury or even rejuvenate and obtain optimal health benefits for your day-to-day life.
